Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-ii-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2017/4/solution

Stokes theorem states that , with consistent boundary orientation. Here , so the circulation around the positively oriented planar curve equals its area. Substituting the given parametrization gives
The curve closes at the origin, passes along the right side to and returns along the left side, so it is anticlockwise. Consequently
Equivalently its two sides are , , whose horizontal width integrates to the same result.
Figure 1.
The enclosed lobe and its positive boundary orientation
. Original analytic plot. Arrows follow increasing parameter from the origin along the right side and back along the left; horizontal widths provide an independent area integral. Details.

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